REAL Housewives Of New Jersey fans slammed Teresa Giudice as “ignorant and irresponsible” for insisting costar Jackie Goldschneider being “sexual harassed by boss” was “a choice.”
During part two of the dramatic Bravo season finale, the frenemies got into a fiery discussion with host Andy Cohen about sexual harassment in the workplace.
Andy, 52, brought the topic up and asked Jackie, 44, if she had experience any inappropriate behavior while working as an attorney.
She nodded and said: “Yes, bosses who would massage my shoulders.”
Immediately, Teresa, 49, rolled her eyes, laughed and fired back “you let them?”
“Yeah, because I didn’t want to get fired,” Jackie responded – seeming annoyed by Teresa’s dismissive attitude.
The mom-of-four let out a louder laugh and said: “Oh, my God.”
The Watch What Happens Live host then asked: “Teresa, have you experienced sexual harassment?”
“No. Nobody would put their hands on me unless I would want them to,” she adamantly said.
Andy appeared shocked and was forced to explain to Teresa that it is “not a sign of weakness to experience sexual harassment.”
“I’m just saying, nobody would touch me unless I want them to,” Teresa reiterated.
The Bravo boss, Jackie and her costar Margaret Josephs all agreed that the conversation had begun to shift into “victim shaming.”
“When you have a job that you’ve worked really hard to get and you don’t want to get fired from it, it’s not ‘letting’ them do it,” Jackie rebutted with an annoyed facial expression.
Margaret then asked Teresa if she believed that all victims who come forward “let it happen” to them.
“I’m talking about me. There are are women that are intimidated by their bosses. I’m just saying with me, it would not happen,” the outspoken brunette shot back.
Fans were furious with Teresa’s comment – with some even saying it’s a “new low” for the star.
“Tre’s comments about sexual harassment were so ignorant and irresponsible and I feel it should’ve been called out a little more firmly by Andy in that situation,” someone said.
Another angry viewer wrote: “Oh ok so Teresa just said on national TV that she would never “allow” sexual harassment to “happen” to her…
“Smfh. As much as I have a soft spot for her…this is the shit I can’t stand. What a fucking horrible victim-blaming statement to make.”
A third tweeted: “I find Teresa’s comments about sexual harassment in the work place disgusting. She has no idea what a real job even entails.”
While another person insisted: “Teresa making sexual harassment sound like a choice is a new low.”
“I’m not a fan of what Teresa and Jennifer are saying about Marg/Jackie with sexual harassment. Not cool,” a critic exclaimed.
